The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-26
He KILLED THE CHILDREN.
the Woman He Was to
Have Married.
Ffonl tlle Philadelphia Tfnles.

From the Philadelphia Times.
LEBANON, Sept. 23.-In court here this
morning William Showers placed his neck
in the judicial moose by confessing to one of
the most horrible murders on record. He
duplicates as his accessory the woman who
in few days would have become his bride
The entire confession was given under the
most dramatic circumstances. Showers
was cigar manufacturer and farmer in
small way at Annville, this county He is
fifty nine years old and widower. He lived
alone in two-story frame house with
his two grandchildren, Samuel and
Willie Speraw, small boys. Their mother
died about year ago and he took them to
rear He grew lonely and made proposal
of marriage to Miss Betsy Sergeant, spin
ster, aged 40, living near by. She told him
that she would not become his wife unless
he got rid of the boys At length he con-
sented to this, and prompted by her. he was
led to murder them. How he crawled into
their bedroom at night and strangled them,
how he buried their bodies in a trench back
of his yard, how he told their neighbors
that he had indentured them to farmer,
their suspicion, Miss Sergeant's purchase of
a silk dress for their wedding, Showers
arrest and the finding of the bodies-this
has all been told.
AN UNEXPECTED CONFESSION.
To day was the time set down for the
| trial. A great crowd gathered in the court
house. Hundreds crowded the streets
| Showers was brought into court weak from
the loss of blood. He had a hemorrhage of
| of the ear and many believe that it was
the result of self-infiicted wound. Show
ers was pale and nervous. He looked
| scared as he saw great crowd gazing
at him. Finally Judge Mcpherson was
handed written statement. 1t con-
sisted Of five pages, and it proved
to be the confession of the infirm
and trembling. murderer at the bar. No
| one knew that he was going to confess 1t
had been kept an absolute secret. Betsy
| Sergeant sat i'll the audience because she
! had been assured that he would make a de-
Tense, and that everything would be done to
save his life. Judge MCPHERSON read the
paper over slowly, and carefully, and his
| face blanched at the fearful contents. The
| court room was hushed in silence Showers
cast his eyes to the floor. Later on he was
asked to plead. He was told 70 stand up.
i He did so meekly and humbly, more than a
| thousand eyes upon him.
| Then the indictments were read charging
him with the murder of his two grandsons
Showers was then asked, guilty or not
| guilty. With a weak voice he answered
| guilty and trembling took his seat, while
! buzz of excitement and satisfaction fol-
lowed from the packed audience, craning
/ their necks toward him The confession
was then handed the clerk of the court, Who
| read II.
BETSY SERGEANT PAINTS.
| Betsy Sergeant arose in the audience
! gave a wall of desperation and sank over
unconscious. In this condition she was car
/ ried ont OF the court room. In his confess
/ sion Showers gives an account of when and
! where be met Miss Sergeant. She said
! that she would not come 10 his place unless
the children were away. He continues:
I'VE were engaged 90 be married. ! had
been everywhere. but couldn't get the chill
dren homes. Betsy was very much ex-
cited. ] went there one evening and She
said We must work the children out 81
the way II was very late In May, and We
~ agreed that this children should be-
/ kllled
FTRAsoLED WHILE THEY SLEPT.
lie goes on 10 tell how she came % his
hluse Un the night " the murder II IN nn
old lantern. bad already dug tho hole l